Rice paper

The generally referred to as rice paper material describes a group of different types of paper that are obtained from different plant fibers. The fibers are made ​​from rice straw or rice flour, from plant parts of rice paper tree species listed in the family Araliaceae ( Araliaceae ), bamboo, hemp, or from the bark of mulberry trees.

Chinese rice paper

The Taiwanese rice paper tree ( Tetrapanax papyrifer ( Hook. ) K.Koch ) and the Tibetan rice paper tree ( Merrilliopanax alpinus ( CBClarke ) CBShang ) are two species of the family Araliaceae ( Araliaceae ). One type is a small tree that is native to Taiwan and Japan swamp forests and is cultivated in China. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant. The other type is native to Tibet. These types provide the basis for the "Chinese rice paper."

For the production of the plant parts (branches) are boiled and stripped of bark. The cylindrical core of the branches of the cord is rolled on a flat and hard surface against a knife, wherein the core fine in thin layers, ivory -like fabric is cut.

The paper is very suitable for watercolor paintings. Due to its texture however, it is less suitable for writing. Variously colored, this rice paper is also used for the manufacture of artificial flowers.

Japanese rice paper

Rice straw can be processed to plain paper that is used as cigarette paper, for lamps or walls in the living area. It can also be processed into high-quality paper, especially in combination with other types of pulp, such as hemp. Which is " Japanese rice paper " made ​​from rice straw.

Edible rice paper

Different varieties of rice paper are edible, such as paper made ​​from rice flour, and used as food packaging.

Will use this paper in the kitchen, such as for spring rolls or dumplings. Here, the paper is soaked prior to further processing in warm water and drained afterwards. Edible rice paper in many places is packaged in the Asian grocery commercially available.